Method of gaming and a gaming system

ABSTRACT

A method of gaming including: initiating a jackpot feature game including a plurality of winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; receiving an instruction from a player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; and conducting the jackpot feature game in response to receipt of the instruction from the player, the jackpot feature game including: initiating a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and providing, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected jackpot before completion of the determination.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2008904519, filed on Sep. 1, 2008, entitled “A METHOD OF GAMING AND A GAMING SYSTEM”, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method of gaming and a gaming system.

BACKGROUND

Current electronic gaming machines allow a player to place a wager or bet, in return for which a play of a game provided by the gaming machine is conducted. Many gaming machines implement a base game and a jackpot feature game which is triggered from the base game if one or more trigger events occur. The jackpot feature game may be arranged to award at least one of a plurality of winnable jackpots.

While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming including:

initiating a jackpot feature game including a plurality of winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded;

receiving an instruction from a player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; and

conducting the jackpot feature game in response to receipt of the instruction from the player, the jackpot feature game including:

-   -   initiating a determination of whether to award at least one of         the selected jackpots; and     -   providing, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to         the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the         highest value selected jackpot before completion of the         determination.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:

a game play mechanism operable by a player to make a selection; and

a game controller arranged to:

-   -   initiate a jackpot feature game including a plurality of         winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to         respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded;     -   receive an instruction from the player selecting at least one of         the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature         game;     -   initiate a determination of whether to award at least one of the         selected jackpots; and     -   provide, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to         the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the         highest value selected before completion of the determination.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:

initiate a jackpot feature game including a plurality of jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded;

receive an instruction from the player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game;

initiate a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and

provide, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected before completion of the determination.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:

means for initiating a jackpot feature game including a plurality of jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded;

means for receiving an instruction from the player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game;

means for initiating a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and

means for providing, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected before completion of the determination.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:

at least one electronic gaming machine including a cabinet, a display mounted within the cabinet, and a game play mechanism mounted to the cabinet incorporating at least one input device, the game play mechanism operable by a player to make a selection, and a game controller disposed within the cabinet including a processor and a memory storing game control instructions which enable the game controller to operate in response to operation of the game play mechanism, the game controller arranged to:

-   -   initiate a jackpot feature game including a plurality of         winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to         respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded;     -   receive an instruction from the game place mechanism selecting         at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the         jackpot feature game;     -   initiate a determination with the processor of whether to award         at least one of the selected jackpots; and     -   provide, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to         the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the         highest value selected before completion of the determination.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a computer program code which when executed implements the above method.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a computer readable medium including the above program code.

In an eighth aspect, the invention provides transmitting or receiving the above program code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gaming machine;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming system;

FIG. 6 is a further block diagram of a gaming system;

FIGS. 7 a-7 e illustrate an exemplary sequence of feature games outcomes; and

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment.

Features, further aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, various embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will be apparent from the appended claims, the following description and/or the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following discloses example methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus including, among other components, software executed on hardware, it should be noted that such methods and apparatus are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of these hardware and software components could be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the following describes example methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus, the examples provided are not the only way to implement such methods, systems, articles of manufacture, and apparatus.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely software and/or firmware implementation, in at least one embodiment, at least one of the elements is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, etc. storing the software and/or firmware.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming method and gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game including a plurality of winnable jackpots, where a player selects at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for and, in at least some jackpot feature games, is given an option to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected jackpot.

General Construction of Gaming System

The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components to implement the game are present in a player operable gaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components to implement the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components to implement the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thick client” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecture may be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thick client” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system includes several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The player interface is arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 that enables a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to place bets), and one or more speakers 58.

The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of a game 16 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 2 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an electromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of FIG. 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a player interface 120 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101 include one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted based on the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive data or commands from the central controller, server or database.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.

FIG. 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in FIG. 5, are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10,100 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the rules, guidelines, preferences and/or requirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in FIG. 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. For example, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devices connected to the network.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games based on the terminals.

Further Detail of Gaming System

Referring to FIG. 6, the player operates game play mechanism 56 to input a selection. In one embodiment, the player can make a selection, using the game play mechanism 56, for both a base game and a jackpot feature game, if the jackpot feature game is initiated. The player makes a selection and inputs game instructions, selected from a plurality of available instructions, to the game controller 60. As described above, the game play mechanism can be in the form of a touch screen and/or buttons. In an embodiment, if a jackpot feature game is initiated, the player can select at least one of a plurality of winnable jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game, where each jackpot has different values which correspond to the respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded.

Outcome generator 622 operates in response to the player's operation of the game play mechanism 56 to generate a game outcome which will then be evaluated by outcome evaluator 623 and jackpot feature evaluator 626. In an embodiment, the outcome evaluator 623 evaluates the generated game outcome and the jackpot feature evaluator 626 evaluates whether the generated game outcome corresponds to an indication to initiate a jackpot feature game.

The outcome generator 622 forms the game outcome by employing random number generator 621 to randomly select symbols from a set of symbols specified by symbol data 641. The selected symbols are advised to the display controller 625 which causes them to be displayed on display 54 at a set of display positions. In one embodiment, outcome generator 622 selects symbols for display from a plurality of symbol sets corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of spinning reels. Thus, the symbol sets 641 specify a sequence of symbols for each reel such that the outcome generator 622 can, in one example, select symbols for display by selecting a stopping position in the sequence. In one example, three symbols of each of five reels may be displayed such that symbols are displayed at fifteen display positions on display 54. To obtain a desired return to player, a probability table having weighted outcomes may be employed when selecting the symbols.

In an embodiment, the outcome evaluator 623 evaluates the game outcome generated by the outcome generator 622, displayed as symbols arranged at a set of display positions, to determine if the outcome corresponds to a winning combination specified in the prize data 642A based on game rules 642. For example, the game rules may specify that all combinations are evaluated left to right or can be evaluated right to left or both. It will be appreciated that the jackpot feature game may include winning outcomes in accordance with those played in the base game in addition to the plurality of winnable jackpots. In this case, the outcome evaluator 623 is operable in both the base and jackpot feature games.

In another embodiment, jackpot feature controller 624 includes the jackpot feature evaluator 626 which evaluates the game outcome displayed as symbols arranged at a set of display positions. Depending on the specific rules of the game, specified by the game rules 642, the symbols displayed may be evaluated to correspond to an indication, or trigger, to initiate a jackpot feature (or secondary) game. It will also be appreciated that it is possible to initiate a further jackpot feature game whilst playing a jackpot feature game.

The jackpot feature evaluator 626 may also make additional evaluations known in the art, for example “scatters” (scattered symbols) where the jackpot feature game is initiated or triggered for a designated number of symbols, irrespective of whether they are on a played arrangement of symbol positions.

By way of example, the jackpot feature game may be a series of game rounds or free games, in which case the outcome evaluator 623 triggers the outcome generator 622 to carry out a series of one or more game rounds or free games and the outcome evaluator 623 evaluates each of these games to determine whether the symbols displayed at a set of display positions corresponds to a winning combination specified in the prize data 642A based on game rules 642. In this example, the winning combinations are the same as the winning combinations of the base game. The game rules 642 also contain combinations corresponding to a plurality of jackpots having different values corresponding to the respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded. Jackpot determiner 627 determines whether one or more game rounds contain the combination of symbols corresponding to one of the plurality of jackpots being awarded.

By way of a further example, each of the plurality of jackpots can be determined to be awarded by the jackpot determiner 627 if respective sets, or combinations, of symbols are completed. In this example, the value of the jackpots corresponds to the respective probabilities of the respective sets of symbols being completed.

In the example where the jackpot feature evaluator 626 evaluates the game outcome as corresponding to a combination for initiating a jackpot feature game, the plurality of winnable jackpots are advised to the display controller 625, which causes them to be displayed on display 54 for selection by the player. The player selects at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game using the game play mechanism 56. The jackpot feature controller 624 receives instruction of the player's selection. In response to receipt of this instruction, generation of outcomes the game round of the jackpot feature game is initiated. As the jackpot feature game is conducted, the jackpot determiner 627 determines whether to award the selected jackpot based on the generated outcomes of each game round.

In at least some of the jackpot feature games, an option is provided to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value of a jackpot selected before completion of the determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots. In this embodiment, the option is advised to the display controller 625 and displayed on the display 54 so that the player can make a selection to accept an award of lesser value at any point in the jackpot feature game before completion of the determination, instead of continuing to play for the selected jackpot of highest value. For example, the player can make a selection to accept the award at the completion of any game round in the jackpot feature game and/or during the game round itself, i.e. the selection may be made whilst the reels are still spinning

In a further embodiment, the player can only make a selection to accept an award of lesser value at the completion of a predetermined game round of the jackpot feature game, before completion of the determination. In an example of this embodiment, the player may only be able to make the selection to accept the award at the completion of the third and twelfth game rounds of the jackpot feature game, where there are fifteen game rounds in a jackpot feature game.

The probability of awarding a jackpot from the jackpot feature game is specified to give the required return to the player and may be specified in game rules 642. In an embodiment, the probability of actually awarding a jackpot to a player currently playing the jackpot game is also calculated throughout the jackpot feature game. The probability is calculated throughout the jackpot feature game, typically at the completion of each game round within the feature game, by a jackpot odds controller 628. The jackpot odds controller 628 calculates the actual probability of the player winning each of the jackpots based on the actual game outcome outputted by the outcome generator 622.

In an embodiment, the option to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest jackpot value selected is provided to the player if the probability of the player winning the lesser value jackpot is within a probability threshold value. In other embodiments, the option to accept the award may be based on other conditions being met, such as providing the option on the occurrence of particular random symbols.

An example of the player being provided with an option to accept an award based on the probability threshold is described in the sample game below. In this example, the player is provided the option to select between a grand, major and minor jackpot, each with a different value corresponding to the respective probabilities of each being awarded. In this example, the player chooses to play for the highest value grand jackpot in a jackpot feature game including fifteen game rounds. Sample probabilities of the jackpots being won in the jackpot feature game are described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Jackpot Probability Grand 0.005 Major 0.010 Minor 0.050 Consolation 0.945

The probabilities described in Table 1 are specified in the game rules 642. Also specified is the probability threshold for the jackpot to be awarded. For example, in the sample game, the threshold may be 10% of the probability of winning the major jackpot. Therefore, in the case where the jackpot odds controller 628 calculates that there is a nine in ten chance of the player winning the major jackpot within the remaining game rounds of the feature game, the player is provided with the option of accepting the major jackpot award. The threshold value may be higher for the minor prize, e.g. 20%. In another example, the threshold value may vary according to the chance of winning the highest value selected jackpot. For example, if the jackpot odds controller 628 calculates that there is a 5% chance of the player winning the grand jackpot in the final game round and a 90% chance of winning the major jackpot, the option to take the grand jackpot is not presented to the player as the threshold value in this example is zero.

In the sample game, each of the plurality of jackpots can be determined to be awarded if respective sets of symbols are completed. Thus, the probability of the player completing the set of symbols for the respective jackpots forms the basis for determining whether to provide the offer. For example, if at the completion of the tenth game round of the feature game the player has completed the set of symbols for the minor jackpot and the jackpot odds controller 628 calculates that the probability of winning the major jackpot is a 25% chance and the probability of winning the grand jackpot is a 5% chance, the player is offered the option to take the minor jackpot and not play for the higher value jackpots. If the player does not accept the minor jackpot and at the completion of the final game round the jackpot odds controller 628 calculates that the probability of winning the major jackpot is a 90% chance and the probability of winning the grand jackpot is a 20% chance, the player is given the option to take the major jackpot or play for the grand jackpot.

The jackpot determiner 627 determines whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots and thus the quantum of the jackpot value to be made depending on whether the jackpot is a progressive jackpot, collective jackpot across multiple gaming machines, or a local machine jackpot, etc. The prizes are accumulated to a win meter stored as meter data 643. Once all outcomes of the feature game have been generated and a further game play instruction is required before any further play can occur, credits are transferred to a credit meter in meter data 643. In embodiments, where a gamble feature is offered it may be possible, for example to seek to double the accumulated win at the risk of losing it. In such embodiments, it may be necessary for a player to operate the game play mechanism 56 to indicate they want to take an accumulated win or to initiate a further play of the game before credits are transferred from the win meter to the credit meter.

By way of example, a sample game will be described. In the sample game, the jackpot feature game, including a plurality of winnable jackpots, is initiated, or triggered, from the base game. The jackpot feature game is then conducted upon receipt of the player's selection of at least one of the plurality of jackpots. In this example, the player is again provided the option to select between a grand, major and minor jackpot, each with a different value corresponding to the respective probabilities of each being awarded. In this example, the player chooses to play for the highest value grand jackpot in the jackpot feature game.

The grand jackpot in the sample game involves the completion of a set of 20 symbols to be awarded. Likewise, the major jackpot involves the completion of a set of 12 symbols and the minor jackpot involves the completion of a set of 8 symbols. These symbols are collected to complete the respective sets over the series of free games, or number of game rounds. By way of further example, in addition to the display described above where symbols are displayed at fifteen positions on display 54, the display of the five reels change, in the jackpot feature game, to have four different types (red, green, blue and yellow) of background symbols. The outcome generator 622 generates a game outcome for use in the jackpot feature game including these background symbols, or secondary symbols, to provide a distinction between the symbols of the base game and the jackpot feature game. This also allows the processes and calculations from the base game to continue while the feature game is being run. In this embodiment, the processes of both games can run concurrently, with the feature game in the background, for more efficient processing. In the sample game, the player needs to collect 20 background symbols (5 red, 5 green, 5 blue and 5 yellow) to win the grand jackpot, 12 background symbols (3 red, 3 green, 3 blue and 3 yellow) to win the major jackpot, and 8 background symbols (2 red, 2 green, 2 blue and 2 yellow) to win the minor jackpot.

In the sample game, there are 15 game rounds or free games in the jackpot feature game. Thus, the chosen grand jackpot is awarded to the player if the set of 20 symbols is completed before completion of the 15 game rounds, and consequently before completion of the determination to award the grand jackpot by the jackpot determiner 627. It will be appreciated that the probability of being awarded each jackpot corresponds to the probability of completing the respective sets of symbols within the remaining game rounds. In one embodiment, a consolation prize may be awarded if at the completion of the 15 game rounds no jackpot is won or award taken.

To better illustrate the sample game, reference will be made to FIGS. 7 a-7 e. The jackpot feature game 700 of the sample game shown in these figures is conducted upon receipt of the player's instruction to play for the grand jackpot. The jackpot determiner 627 then determines whether to award the grand, major and minor jackpots, based on the completion of the respective symbol sets, for each game round. FIG. 7 a shows the sample game at the completion of the second game round. Reels 710 display red, blue and yellow symbols and these symbols are collected by the player to complete the sets of symbols required to win the respective jackpots. This is displayed to the player in a jackpot progress display 720. The number of games played and the number of games remaining in the jackpot feature game is displayed to the player in field 730.

In the sample game, at any point in at least some jackpot feature games, typically at the end of each game round, an option is provided to the player to accept an award of lesser value than the grand jackpot. FIG. 7 b shows, at the completion of the fourth game round, the player being provided the option to continue playing 740 for the grand jackpot or take the minor jackpot 750, even though the required number of symbols to complete the set is not fulfilled. If the minor jackpot is taken, the jackpot feature game ends. In another embodiment, the player is only given the option to take a minor or major jackpot at the completion of the fifth and tenth game rounds.

FIG. 7 d shows the player continuing to play for the grand jackpot and at the completion of the tenth game round, the player has acquired enough background symbols to qualify for a major jackpot, as shown in FIG. 7 e. In an embodiment, the option is provided to the player where a condition, such as the probability of being awarded the jackpot being within a probability threshold, is met. That is, at the end of the tenth game, as shown in FIG. 7 e, the probability of winning the major jackpot within the next five game rounds is within the probability threshold and thus the option to accept the jackpot is provided. If, for example, no further symbols are collected in the next two game rounds, the probability of winning the major jackpot is now outside the probability threshold and the option is no longer provided to the player.

A method 800 of gaming is summarised in FIG. 8 and involves initiating 810 a jackpot feature game including a plurality of winnable jackpots. The method involves receiving 820 an instruction from a player selecting at least one of the jackpots to play in the jackpot feature game and conducting 830 the game. In the game, the method involves determining 840 whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots and providing 850 an option to the player to select an award of lesser value than the highest value selected jackpot.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the arrangements of symbol display positions played correspond to combinations of symbol display positions in accordance with the game rules 642. A win line corresponds to the combinations of displayed symbol positions, one from each reel, being located relative to one another such that they form a line. Examples of win lines are given in Australian patent 684195 owned by Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in other embodiments, the outcome evaluator may evaluate symbol combinations in a different way. For example, in the manner in which outcomes are evaluated in games marketed under the trade name “Reel Power” by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,093,102. Such arrangements of games symbol combinations are made by forming combinations from each selected reel by combining it with all the selected positions of other reels. In other words, all symbol positions of a selected reel can be used to form symbol combinations with designated, symbol display positions of other reels. This means that in embodiments where there are three symbols displayed for each reel and five reels, there are 243 different symbol combinations (3⁵) to be evaluated by the outcome evaluator (also known as “ways” to win). Thus in this embodiment, the game rules 642 may specify for example the evaluation of 2,3,4 or 5 reels irrespective of the game play instruction. This may be configurable by the operator.

In the above description it will be appreciated that various of the above functional modules are implemented by processor 62 executing code stored in memory 64. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments are possible including dedicated circuits.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server which results in the program code being transmitted from the server to a gaming machine or computer which receives it).

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of the invention can be combined to form further embodiments.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings. It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

The present invention contemplates methods, systems and program products on any electronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. Certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwired system, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions. 

1. A method of gaming comprising: initiating a jackpot feature game comprising a plurality of winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; receiving an instruction from a player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; and conducting the jackpot feature game in response to receipt of the instruction from the player, the jackpot feature game including: initiating a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and providing, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected jackpot before completion of the determination.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the option to accept the award of lesser value is provided to the player if at least one condition is met.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one condition is a probability threshold derived from the respective probabilities of the corresponding jackpots being awarded.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of jackpots can be awarded if respective sets of symbols are completed.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the award of lesser value is a jackpot of lesser value and the option to accept the award of lesser value is provided to the player without completion of the respective set of symbols for the award of the jackpot of lesser value.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jackpot feature game comprises a number of game rounds in which the determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots is made.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the option to accept the award of lesser value is provided to the player at the completion of any game round before completion of the determination.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the option to accept the award of lesser value is provided to the player at the completion of at least one predetermined game round before completion of the determination.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the number of game rounds is
 15. 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of jackpots having different values include a grand, major and minor jackpot corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded.
 11. A gaming system comprising: a game play mechanism operable by a player to make a selection; and a game controller arranged to: initiate a jackpot feature game comprising a plurality of winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; receive an instruction from the player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; initiate a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and provide, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected before completion of the determination.
 12. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the game controller is further arranged to provide the option to accept the award of lesser value to the player if at least one condition is met.
 13. A gaming system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one condition is a probability threshold derived from the respective probabilities of the corresponding jackpots being awarded.
 14. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of jackpots can be awarded if respective sets of symbols are completed.
 15. A gaming system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the award of lesser value is a jackpot of lesser value and the game controller is further arranged to provide the option to accept the award of lesser value to the player without completion of the respective set of symbols for the award of the jackpot of lesser value.
 16. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the jackpot feature game comprises a number of game rounds in which the determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots is made.
 17. A gaming system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the game controller is further arranged to provide the option to accept the award of lesser value to the player at the completion of any game round before completion of the determination.
 18. A gaming system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the game controller is further arranged to provide the option to accept the award of lesser value to the player at the completion of at least one predetermined game round before completion of the determination.
 19. A gaming system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the number of game rounds is
 15. 20. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plurality of jackpots having different values comprise a grand, major and minor jackpot corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded.
 21. A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to: initiate a jackpot feature game comprising a plurality of jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; receive an instruction from the player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; initiate a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and provide, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected before completion of the determination.
 22. A gaming system comprising: means for initiating a jackpot feature game comprising a plurality of jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; means for receiving an instruction from the player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; means for initiating a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and means for providing, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected before completion of the determination.
 23. A gaming system comprising: at least one electronic gaming machine comprising a cabinet, a display mounted within the cabinet, and a game play mechanism mounted to the cabinet incorporating at least one input device, the game play mechanism operable by a player to make a selection, and a game controller disposed within the cabinet comprising a processor and a memory storing game control instructions which enable the game controller to operate in response to operation of the game play mechanism, the game controller arranged to: initiate a jackpot feature game comprising a plurality of winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; receive an instruction from the game play mechanism selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; initiate a determination with the processor of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and provide, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected before completion of the determination.
 24. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to implement a method of gaming comprising: initiating a jackpot feature game comprising a plurality of winnable jackpots having different values corresponding to respective probabilities of each jackpot being awarded; receiving an instruction from a player selecting at least one of the plurality of jackpots to play for in the jackpot feature game; and conducting the jackpot feature game in response to receipt of the instruction from the player, the jackpot feature game including: initiating a determination of whether to award at least one of the selected jackpots; and providing, in at least some jackpot feature games, an option to the player to accept an award of lesser value than at least the highest value selected jackpot before completion of the determination. 